If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(41)

"Jeremy told me he ran into you at the park."

"He did. I can't quite believe he's a father now. I never really saw him in that role, but he's good with Ashlyn, and she's rather challenging."

"She is."

"He told me a little about her history; I'm glad that he came home to raise her. He'll find a lot of support here."

She didn't think Jeremy considered Angel's Bay home, but she let the comment pass. "Is your husband watching your kids? I thought he was part of the boys' night out at Murray's Bar."

"He is. My neighbor is watching all the kids. They're going to have a blast, so I don't feel in the least bit guilty."

As they entered the large multi-purpose room, Mia took a look around. There was a cozy seating area in one corner, with four loveseats surrounding a large rectangular table. The other side of the room had sewing machines set up on tables and what appeared to be a lot of quilting supplies. Three large circular tables filled the middle space and a long buffet table was set up against the wall with platters of food and bottles of wine and cans of soda.

Two women were chatting by that table, a pretty blonde and an attractive brunette. Both appeared to be in their late twenties, early thirties.

"This is Mia Callaway," Kara said, taking her over to the women. "This is my sister-in-law Lauren Murray and my good friend Charlotte Adams—I mean Charlotte Silveira," she added with a laugh. "It's not that I forget that you're married now—you're just always Charlotte Adams in my head."

"I know," the blonde said, extending her hand. "So lovely to meet you, Mia. Your aunt was a patient of mine. I'm an OB/GYN. She often brought me a trinket from one of her trips, but as pretty as those were, I enjoyed her stories even more."

"Your aunt also knew my father," Lauren interjected. "She was kind enough to visit him when he got Alzheimer's. He would spend a lot of time in my bakery, sipping tea at the table by the window, and she used to come in and chat with him. She'd remind him of the things he'd forgotten. He liked that. I was really sorry to hear of her passing. She was too young."

"She was," Mia agreed. "But she died having the time of her life, so what more can any of us ask for?" She set her box of baked goods on the table. "I think these came from your bakery, Lauren."

"I recognize the box, but I don't remember selling them to you."

"My neighbor and his little girl picked them up for me."

"Jeremy Holt," Lauren said with a nod. "That man has only gotten better with age."

"I'll say," Charlotte put in. "He's more handsome than ever and quite the hero. Kent told Joe that Jeremy saved his life."

"That wouldn't surprise me," Kara said. "Jeremy always stuck up for people."

"That's true," Lauren said. "He punched Randy Hawkins in the nose after he bullied a little kid in middle school. Jeremy didn't even care that he got detention for that. He said it was worth it."

Mia liked hearing stories about Jeremy, especially such positive ones. She thought he was a good guy, but it was nice to hear people who'd known him longer confirm that feeling.

"So you're living next door to him?" Lauren asked, a speculative gleam in her eyes. "Is he dating anyone?"

"I haven't seen any women around, but I've only been in town a short time."

"I doubt he'll lack for company," Charlotte put in.

"He seems more interested in just being a good father to his daughter," Kara said. "Although, he is going to Murray's tonight to shoot pool with the boys, so who knows what trouble they'll get into?"

"Joe said that Kent is trying to talk Jeremy into joining the police force here. Joe is my husband," Charlotte added for Mia's benefit. "He's the chief of police."

"I can't imagine he'd find Angel's Bay exciting after what he's been doing," Lauren said.

"You never know—he might be ready for a change," Kara interjected. "Do you know his plans, Mia?"

"I only know that he said he has some decisions to make."

"What happened to his daughter's mother?' Lauren asked curiously.

"She was killed in a robbery. Jeremy didn't know about his daughter until after her death." She hoped she wasn't speaking out of turn, but she didn't want these women to think that Jeremy had neglected his child for the last eight years. "Ashlyn has some issues to work through."

"You've gotten pretty close to Jeremy and his daughter," Kara commented, a thoughtful gleam in her eyes.

"I don't want you to get the wrong idea; we're just neighbors," she said quickly, although the few kisses they'd shared had been more than neighborly.

"Are you single, Mia?" Charlotte asked. "Is there a boyfriend back home?"

"No boyfriend. I'm definitely single."

"Maybe not for long," Kara said with a teasing laugh. "If your neighbor has anything to say about it."

"You're bad," she said, shaking a finger at Kara's mischievous smile.

"Ignore her. She likes to matchmake more than just about anything else," Lauren said.